Four paralegals charged in conviction-erasing scam

Four Toronto-area paralegals stand accused in an alleged corruption scheme that wrongly-eliminated convictions for traffic tickets.

The four paralegals — Ben Zappia, Ben Bennardo, Payam Javadi and Philip Alexiu — were charged with breach of trust, fraud over $5,000, uttering forged documents and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.

All were released on their own recognizance from Ontario Court of Justice at 2201 Finch Ave. W.

Ben Bennardo, 30Submitted

Zappia, 44, Bennardo, 30, Javadi, 37, and Alexiu, 38, will be back in court on May 27.

Bennardo’s father attended the brief court hearing.

None of the private-practice paralegals have been suspended and none have criminal records.

The four accused will join City of Toronto court clerk Frank Rizzello in court on May 27, who was charged in February in connection with same allegations.

The four paralegals were released under conditions barring them from attending traffic court at 2700 Eglinton Ave. W. and from contacting the more than 130 people whose convictions were allegedly erased.

Sources told the Sun the tampering of the court documents — changing them from convictions to withdrawals — cost the city of Toronto more than $30,000 in lost fines from 130-plus cases.

Sources also stated that the investigation is continuing as “police are looking even deeper into this case, as they should.”

Rizzello, 43, who worked as an intake clerk at traffic court at 2700 Eglinton Ave. W. faces several allegations including Defrauding the city out of more than $5,000, breach of trust by altering Justice of the Peace disposition documents, Forging court dockets and court disposition database, conspiring to commit fraud with “persons unknown” and attempting to obstruct justice by overturning convictions.

All offences occurred between March 1 and June 30, 2018.

Benito Zappia, 44Submitted

For Alexiu, this isn’t his first corruption charge.

In 2007, a jury tried Alexiu and two other paralegals on allegations of duping the transportation ministry to get their clients’ driving convictions removed by using phony appeal documents.

The jury couldn’t reach a verdict on Alexiu, and crown attorney Phil Perlmutter withdrew the charges against him.

Brothers Joe Alessandro, then 36, and Nick Alessandro, then 37, were convicted of forgery and attempting to obstruct justice.

“I’m relieved now, knowing the truth has come out and I’ve gotten my justice,” said Alexiu after the withdrawal.